A method of fabricating a photovoltaic solar cell is provided. A plurality of
generally
spherical semiconductor elements are provided. Each of the semiconductor elements
has a core and an outer surface surface forming a p-n junction. An anti-reflection
coating is deposited on the outer surface of each of the semiconductor elements
and each of the semiconductor elements is bonded into a perforated aluminum foil
array thereby providing ohmic contact to a first side of the p-n junction. The
anti-reflection coating is removed from a portion of each of the semiconductor
elements and then the core is exposed, thereby allowing ohmic contact to be made
to a second side of the p-n junction.
